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Regulations Could Delay or Prevent Space Tourism

Posted by Soulskill on from the fly-me-to-the-moon dept.

schwit1 writes "This report explains how Virgin Galactic space tourists could be grounded by federal regulations. From the article: 'Virgin Galactic submitted an application to the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation in late August 2013, says Attenborough. The office, which goes by the acronym AST, has six months to review the application, meaning an approval may come as early as February. Industry experts, however, say that may be an overly optimistic projection. "An application will inevitably be approved, but it definitely remains uncertain exactly when it will happen," says Dirk Gibson, an associate professor of communication at the University of New Mexico and author of multiple books on space tourism. "This is extremely dangerous and unchartered territory. It's space travel. AST has to be very prudent," he says. "They don't want to endanger the space-farers or the public, and they can't let the industry get started and then have a Titanic-like scenario that puts an end to it all in the eyes of the public.""

4 of 186 comments (clear)

  1. That's stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    As much as I think "space tourism" is an overhyped amusement park ride for jaded rich white people, you don't need government regulation to prevent "space tourism". The high cost to go to the upper atmosphere in a tin can guarantees it'll never be more than a distraction. Much like flying in a MiG. You know anyone who flew in a MiG? No? What makes you think that "space tourism" will be any different?

    Please explain how staying in the plane is "tourism"?

    "Hey guys! I just went to Paris! I stayed in the plane the whole time and flew over it and came back! Wow! I'm exploring!"

  2. extremely dangerous and unchartered territory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    "space travel"? Uncharted? We've been doing it since 1961. Big whoop. And sub-orbital hops that stay in the atmosphere are not "space travel", no matter how grandiose the company name. Virgin Galactic!!! Wow! Just wait for my new company!

    Sluts Universal!

    How you like that!?

  3. do not question your government by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Do not question your government's financial interest in preventing you from leaving Earth. Now pay your taxes and pay no attention to the boot stomping on your face forever.

    1. Re:do not question your government by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
      You are free to go into a dead, deadly, empty vacuum with nothing in it and die there within weeks. Wouldn't want to have air, water and food brought up from the big, bad evil gubmint, after all. What is it with you delusional far-right Objectivist knucklefucks and your knee-jerk religious space worshiping? It's SPACE. It's EMPTY. You are so afraid of the goverment? Go colonize the South Pole. No one's going to stop you. Only pussies and weaklings will find excuses to never go there.

      Pussy. Paranoid delusional pussy faggot coward. Go, go buy some clothes and a tent and go colonize the South Pole. Do it. You don't need help, right? Your mighty penis of the free market doesn't need help, right? That's socialism. Right?

      GO AND COLONIZE YOUR BLESSED EMPTY DEADLY DESERT. You pussy. You don't have the guts to get off the couch and put down the video games. You couldn't even last a week living as a homeless person right here on Earth (who needs the boot of government on your face, right? As opposed to the silk glove of the fascist job creators!) but you'll thrive in space!

      GO. LEAVE. GO AWAY. Go with your giant space erection and have free-market sex with asteroids YOU TREMBLING COWARD. YOU FEAR-MONGERING PARANOID PUSSY.

      GO NOW. LEAVE.